Shoe lasting device



April 24, 1934. G. w. MILLER SHOE LASTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1929 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR.

. mn NW N mm QM M ww 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 x VENTOR 677M? fi mw m l April 24, 1934. e. w. MILLER SHQE LASTING DEVICE Filed 061i. 22,-1929 G. W. MILLER SHOE LASTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; 6720 92? Wm BYQ %ZSA April 24, 1934;

April 1934- G. w. MILLER 1,955,886

SHOE LASTING DEVICE Filed 001',- 22, 1929 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 SHOE LAS'I'ING DEVICE George W. Miller, Rochester, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1929, Serial No. M1526 This invention relates to a device for lasting shoes by the method which employs wires or the like for drawing the edges of the upper over the insole, and. has particular reference to a device for tightening such wires in a satisfactory manner with great rapidity and with a minimum of efiort and skill required on the part of the operator.

. An object of the invention is the provision of 1a a greatly improved device of the nature above mentioned, which is more satisfactory than those heretofore known, which may be used by a comparatively inexperienced operator, and which may be operated extremely rapidly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a deviceso designed that it may be easily and quickly adjusted for use in connection with shoes of diiferent styles or sizes.

To these and other ends the invention resides 2p in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the device'in initial position ready to tighten a wire;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device actuated to tighten the wire to pull the upper of .the shoe into proper position over the edges of the insole;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan with parts in section showing details of the device;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through parts of the wire tightening mechanism showing the wire clamping jaws in openposition;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the jaws closed or clamped together;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the mechanism for. controlling movement of the last jack, with parts of the jack removed;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the last jack showing the last spindle andthe toe rest; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6; a

I Fig. '10 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of 6;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinalsection taken centrally through a pneumatic cylinder for operating parts of the device:

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device; and

' nates. in end portions 25 and 26. Both of these exceedingly satisfactory manner over the insole,

(Cl. Hi -7) Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of a shoe lasted by the use of the device.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Although the device of the present invention so is capable of use in various ways, it is intended primarily to be used in connection with lasting shoes according to themethod disclosed in my co-pending patent application for Method of making shoes, Serial No. 358,860, filed April 29, 1929. As is more fully set forth in said application, the method of lastingcontemplates securing the' insole to the last by means such as tacks 20, illustrated in Fig. 13 of the present drawings. The upper of the shoe, prior to its being applied to the last, is prepared for lasting by having secured thereto one or more 'wires'extending around the outer surface of. the upper near the bottom edge thereof. As shown in Fig. 13, one wire 21 extends around the'toe portion of the upper and terminates in end portions des ignated by the numerals 22 and 23, near the middle of the shoe. Another wire 24 extends around the heel portion of the upper, and termiously been applied either to the upper or to the insole or both. The use of wires in this manner not only draws the upper smoothly and in an but furthermore holds the upper in proper po sition against the insole until the adhesive has dried or set, after which the stitches 2'7 are cut out and the wires removed. The shoe is then completed in any suitable manner, as by cementing an outer sole on the bottom 01 the lasted 7 upper and insole. 1

It is found that the most satisfactory method of tighteningthe wires 21 and 24 is to grasp the free ends ofthe wires and pull them longitudinally to tighten the wires somewhat, and then, or simultaneously withsuch longitudinal pulling, to twist the ends of the wires together tighten them further and. to hold them in such tightened position. The ends of the wires twisted together are clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings, and the parts ordinarily remain in the position shown in this figure until the adhesive has set. It is to a device for pulling and twisting these wires that the present invention particularly relates.

Referring now especially to 'Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a bench 30 on which is supported a frame 31. Near the left hand end of this frame is mounted a last jack indicated generally by the numeral 32, this jack being movable back and forth by mechanism which will be described in detail hereafter.

The jack includes a last spindle 33 pivoted at 34 and provided with an adjusting screw 35 by means of which the spindle may be moved so that the toe of an upper 36 held on a last 37 positioned on the spindle 33 .may be brought down against a toe rest 38 mounted on the top of a rod 39 held by a screw 40 in a a socket 41 of a toe rest carriage 42 movable along guideways 43 on the'jack, which carriage may be clamped in any desired position on such guideways by means of the screw 44. The detailed construction of some of these parts is shown somewhat more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8.

It is to be noted especially, as shown in Fig. 12,

' that the last spindle 33 is knurled or otherwise suitably roughened. Obviously when the screw- 35 is tightened to force the toe of the shoe against the toe rest 38, the toe rest will exert a somewhat upward thrust upon the last, tending to displace it from the spindle. If the spindle is smooth and the last socket also smooth, it sometimes happens that the last slips 01f of the spindle. It is found in practice, however, that when the spindle is knurled, it effectively grips the last socket, whether this socket be simply a hole in a wooden last or a metal insert in the last, and prevents the last from slipping off the spindle on account of the upward pressure of the toe rest 38. It is believed to be broadly new to provide a knurled or otherwise roughened portion on a last spindle, as distinguished from a latch or catch, for retaining the last on the spindle in spite of the displacing tendency of a toe rest or the like. It is also thought to be new to provide a toe rest mounted upon an adjustable carriage such as the carriage 42 shown in the drawings.

The jack is rotatable bodily about a vertical axis 45 (Figs. 7 and 8) secured to a base 46. A spring latch 47 mounted on the jack is arranged to engage positively in either one of two notches 48 formed in the base 46 180 apart so that the jack will be held positively and securely in either one of two' positions, in one of which the toe of the shoe points in one direction and in the other of which the toe points in the opposite direction.

As mentioned above, the entire jack is capable of a movement back and forth, in a general di rection toward and away from the wire tightening device which will be described in detail hereafter. Accordingly, the base 46 of the jack is movable along guideways 50.

Pivoted at 51' to the frame 31 are two levers. The upper lever, designated by the numeral 52, extends forwardly and is provided at its forward end with a handle portion 53 conveniently accessible to the operator of the device. The lower lever 54 lies directly beneath the upper lever 52, but is not so long, terminating just inside an arcuate vertical flange 55 formed concentric with the fulcrum 51. This lower lever 54 has a longitudinal slot 56 therein, into which extends a stud 5'7 mounted on a part of the movable base 46 of the jack. Thus the lower lever 54 is connected to the base of the jack so that the lever must move whenever the jack is shifted back and forthalong the guideways 50, and anything which prevents movement of the lever will obviously likewise prevent movement of the jack.

The lever 54 is provided at its free end with a suitable one way clutch such as the roller 60 supported by a projecting shelf portion 61 of the lever 54 and positioned between the arcuate flange 55 and the oblique end 62 of the lever. A leaf spring 63 mounted on the side of the lever tends to, move the roller 60 toward the narrow end of the tapered space between the flange 55 and the oblique end 62 of the lever, and this produces a jamming action which prevents rightward movement of the-free end of the lever 54 until the roller is released. It will be apparent that the jack 32 may be freely moved leftwardly along the guideways 50, since the one way clutch does not interfere with leftward movement of the end of the lever 54. But no amount of force applied to the jack to moveit rightwardly will cause such movement, because the force tending to move the end of the lever 54 rightwardly simply jams the clutch roller 60 that much more tightly between the flange 55 and the surface 62, effectively preventing rightward movement of the lever.

In order to move the lever 54 rightwardly when desired, however, the upper lever 52 is provided with a pin 65 projecting downwardly into the tapered space between the flange 55 and the surface 62, just to the left of the roller 60, as may be seen best in Figs. 6 and 10. Also, the lever 54 carries a stud 66 which projects upwardly therefrom through a short transverse slot 67 in the upper lever 52. It is apparent that when the handle 53 of the upper lever 52 is moved rightwardly, the pin 65 will contact with the roller 60 to move the latter rightwardly a slight amount so that it is no longer jammed between theflange 55 and the surface 62, and the pin 66 contacting with the left hand end of the slot 67 will cause the lower lever 54 to be carried rightwardly with the upper lever. Thus the upper lever 52 provides a manual means for releasing the one way clutch which normally prevents rightward movement of the lower lever. The jack 32 may obviously be moved back and. forth in either direction by motion applied to the handle 53 of the upper lever 52, and thus it may be easily and quickly adjusted so that the wires on the shoe are in proper position with respect to the wire tightening mechanism described below. The pull exerted on the jack by the wire tightening mechanism during the operation thereof will not result in moving the jack, however, since the movement of the jack is prevented by the one way clutch above de scribed.

The wire tightening'mechanism comprises a yoke '70 pivoted at '71 to a head '72 on a vertical standard '73, as shown in Fig. 1. A clamping screw 74 cooperating with an arcuate slot 75 formed in the yoke 70 enables the yoke to be turned to a limited extent about its pivot '71 and to be clamped in any desired position, so that the parts may be adjusted for satisfactory operation upon shoes of various styles or sizes. For further accommodation to shoes of different sizes, the standard 73 is vertically adjustable, rack teeth '78 formed on the standard being engaged by a pinion 79 operable by a crank 80, the pinion being mounted upon a sleeve 81 through which the standard 73 extends. As a further rte in any one of two or more sockets 82 formed on the top of the frame 31. As shown-in Fig. 1, the sleeve is received in the right hand socket 82, but if desired it may be lifted bodily out of such socket and shifted to the left hand one.

Extending leftwardly from each socket 82 is a vertical flange 83 rising nearly to the'top' of the socket. This cooperates with a pair of spaced lugs 84 (see also Fig. 6) which limit the rotary motion of the sleeve 81 in the socket, but permit the sleeve, and with it all the mechanism carried thereby, to be rotated slightly.

The yoke carries the wire tightening mechanism. As shown in Fig. l, the left hand branch of the yoke 70 is provided with a guideway -or bearing 90 inwhich a sleeve 91 is longitudinally movable in a general direction toward and away from a shoe held on the last 37, and in which the sleeve 91 is likewise rotatable. Within the sleeve 91, and longitudinally movable therein through a limited range of movement, is an elongated member such as the rod 92. These parts are perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, reference to which is now made. This rod 92 carries a cross pin 93 extending through longitudinal slots 94 in the sleeve 91 so that the rod 92 may move longitudinally relative to the sleeve 91 through a limited range of movement determined by the length of the slots 94, but may not rotate relative to the sleeve. Rotation of the sleeve 91 in the bearing 90'will therefore obviously produce corresponding rotation of the rod 92 as a unit with the sleeve.

Any suitable form of wire engaging device is used in connection with the wire tightening mechanism. It has been found preferable in pr'actice to use clamping jaws which may be clamped onto the wire. Such a construction is more satisfactory than various other types of wire engaging devices, since the clamping jaws not only hold the wire more firmly but maybe attached to the wire more quickly. Accordingly, a pair of wire clamping jaws is used in the present instance, one jaw 95 being carried by and preferably being formed integral with the rod 92 at th left hand end thereof. This may be termed the fixed jaw as distinguished from the movable jaw 96 pivoted to the rod 92 at 97. The wire engaging faces of the jaws are preferably corrugated or otherwise roughened as shown in the drawings, in order to hold the wire firmly against slipping. The movable jaw 96 has a tail 98 havinga cam surface 99 thereon, this tail'extending obliquely through a slot in the rod 92, the end of the slot being indicated-by the line 100.

The sleeve 91 is provided with a slot 101 through which the tail 98 of the movable jaw extends as illustrated in Figs. 4 and5. The left hand end .of this slot 101 has an oblique cam surface 102 that when the sleeve 91 moves leftwardly relative to the rod 92, the spring 103 will be permitted to swing the tail-98 to open'the'jaws 95 and 96 as illustrated in Fig. 4.' When the sleeve moves rightwardly relative to the rod, however, then the cam surface 102 sliding on the cam surface 99 of the tail 98 shifts this tail againstthe action of the spring 103 and closes the clamping jaws as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be observed from Figs. 4 and 5 that the sleeve 91 extends rightwardly a considerable distance beyond the end of the rod 92, and is there provided with a plug 105- against which presses one end of a coiled compression spring 106, the other end of which presses against the right hand end of the rod 92. Thus the spring ends to move the sleeve and rod relative to each other to a position in which the jaws 95 and 96 are clamped together. The clamping tendency of this spring may be opposed or overcome, however, by moving 1 the sleeve 91 leftwardly until the pin 93' of the rod 92 comes into contact with the end of the bearing 90, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and then continuing such leftward movement of the sleeve against the compression of the spring 106, the slot 94 in the sleeve meanwhile sliding relatively to the pin 93 which is held stationary against the bearing 90. This will open the clamping jaws to permit the loose ends of a lasting wire to be placed therein.

When the sleeve 91 is subsequently moved rightwardly, the pin 93 will still be held against the bearing by the spring 106 during the first part of such movement, and consequently the cam surface 102 on the sleeve will move over the cam surface 99 of the clamping jaws and close these jaws tightly upon the wire. Continued rightward movement of the'sleeve 91 will carry .the rod 92 rightwardly along with it, the force being transmitted to the rod 92 either by contact 7 of the surface 102 with the tail 98 or by contact of the pin 93 with the left end of the slots 94, or both. Hence when the sleeve 91 has been moved leftwardly to the limit of its movement to open the jaws and 96, the ends of a lasting wire ona shoe held on the jack 32 may be inserted in said jaws, and-subsequent rightward movement of the sleeve. 91 will first clamp the jaws tightly upon the wire and will then move these jaws bodily along a rectilinear path in a general direction away from the shoe, thus tightening the wire.

to twist the ends of the wire upon each other, not only to assist in tightening the wire but also to hold the wire tight for any desired length of time, such as the time during which the adhesive is drying. Accordingly, the sleeve 91 is provided with a hand wheel 110 fixed thereto by a set screw 111. Eithersimultaneously with the rightward movement of the sleeve 91, or after the sleeve has been moved rightwardly to the desired extent, the hand wheel may be rotated manually by the operator, thus turning the sleeve 91, the rod 92, and the clamping jaws 95 and 96 bodily within the bearing 90. This rotation of the clamping jaws obviously twists the ends of the wires held thereby, the twisting being continued to any desiredextent.

It is to be noted that the twisting of the wires is done entirely by hand, throughthe hand wheel 1 10, without the interposition of any power mechanism. This has been found to be extremely -advantageous, since the operator is able to tell by -the feel of the hand'wheel 110 when the wire has been twisted sufiiciently, and avoids twisting it too much which may break the wire and spoil the operation upon the shoe being lasted. When it is attempted to rotate the wire holding device by power means, such as by the use of a motor and a clutch to connectit to the wire holding device, it is found that the wire is frequently It has been mentioned above that it is desirable twisted too much and breaks, or istwisted insufficientl y so that it does nothold the shoe upper in proper position during the required length of time. This is due to the fact that when power means and a clutch are used, the operator is unable to judge of the twisting from the feel of the clutch lever. When using a hand wheel to twist the wire manually in accordance with the present invention, however, the operator quickly learns just what the feel" of the wheel should be when the wire is twisted to the proper extent, and is thus able to perform the twisting quickly and successfully with little or no breakage. The ability to feel the extent of the twisting of the wire is one of the important features of this invention.

The longitudinal movement of the sleeve 91 may be produced in any desirable way. 7 In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5,

inclusive, pneumatic means is provided for moving the sleeve. A pneumatic cylinder 120 is mounted in a socket 121 at the right hand end of the yoke 70, the construction of the cylinder and associated parts being shown most clearly in Fig.

11. At the right hand end of the cylinder is a cylinder head 122 through which extends a port 123 leading to a conduit 124. The left hand end has a cylinder head 125 provided with a port 126 leading to a conduit 127. This left hand cylinder head 125 is provided with the usual opening and gland through which passes a piston rod 128. The left hand end of this rod passes through a hole in a cap 129 fixed on the right hand end of the sleeve 91, the cap being retained between two collars 130 and 131 on the piston rod so that the cap is free to rotate on the piston rod but may not move longitudinally thereon. Hence longitudinal movements of the piston rod 128 are transmitted to the sleeve 91, but rotation of the sleeve by the hand wheel 110 does not affect the piston rod.

At its right hand end, the piston rod is provided with a piston 135 working within the cylinder 120, the piston having a flexible pneumatic gasket 136 on each side thereof in known manner. Compressed air or other fluid for operating the cylinder 120 is supplied from any suitable source to a suitable control valve of known form, and from the valve to the conduits 124 and 127. Preferably the control valve is of the pedal variety, operated by one or both feet of the ontat or, and the means for moving the sleeve 91 longitudinally may therefore be described as pedal controlled means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 12, the sleeve 91 is moved longitudinally directly by pedal means without the use of any power means. In this embodiment of the invention, the last holding jack 32 and associated parts may be identical with the corresponding parts previously described and illus-' trated in the other figures of the drawings. The sleeve 91, rod 92, clamping jaws and 96, and hand wheel 110 may also be of the same construction previously described. The yoke 70a in Fig.

12 is slightly different from the yoke '70 in Fig. 1, however, and is provided with two alined bearings or guideways 90a. and 901), the sleeve 91 being made sufficiently long. so that it extends through both of these bearings as shown, and is rotatable and longitudinally movable therein.

A coiled spring 140 between the bearing 90b and the hand wheel 110 tends to move the sleeve 91 leftwardly to a position which opens the clamping jaws. For moving the sleeve rightwardly to clamp the wire and tighten it, there is provided a pedal 141 pivoted at 142 to a suitable support on or near the fioor, a cord 143 being connected to the pedal and extending upwardly through a hole 144 in the bench 30 and around a pulley 145 mounted on a bracket 146 on the yoke 70a. The end of the cord is connected to a short rod-like member 147 which is preferably connected to a cap,129a. on the end of the sleeve 91 in the same manner that the piston rod 128 is connected to the cap 129 as shown in Fig. 4, so that rotation of the sleeve 91 does not turn the member 147 or twist the cord 143.

It is found in practice that when lasting certain kinds of shoes, particularly infants shoes, the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 12 is somewhat preferable. The operator is able to feel, from the pressure exerted by his foot on the pedal 141,

-when the sleeve 91 has been moved the proper amount to effect the desired tightening of the wire,either prior to or simultaneously with the twisting of the wire by means of the hand wheel 110. This feel" which results from direct operation of the device by the foot of the operator, rather than by power means, is somewhat analogous to the feel obtained when using the hand wheel 110 to twist the wires, as above mentioned. However, the feel of the longitudinal movement of the sleeve 91 is not nearly so important as the feel of the rotation of the sleeve to effect twisting, the latter feel being practically essential to rapid and satisfactory operation. Al though the feel permitted by. the use of the pedal 141 is somewhat desirable in lasting infants shoes, for example, yet it is of small or negligible importance in lasting shoes of other types, such for example as large heavy shoes. For lasting shoes of the kind just mentioned, it is therefore preferred to use the poweroperated form of device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, since the slight loss of advantage in that the operator is unable to feel the longitudinal movements of the sleeve 91 is more than counterbalanced by the greater ease of operating the power driven device.

It is accordingly contemplated that the device operated directly by a pedal as in Fig. 12 will be used for lasting certain shoes while the power operated device as in Fig. 1, preferably controlled by a pedal valve, will be used for lasting other types of shoes, the individual operator or factory superintendent deciding for himself which type of device he prefers to use under any given circumstances. No matter which form of device is used, the twisting of the wires is in either case done by hand, as by the use of the hand wheel 110, so that this twisting 'is under direct manual control of the operator and the feel of the twisting operation is available to the operator to guide him in the satisfactory performance of the work.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention, but a brief rsum of the operation will now be given.

In operation, an upper which has been prepared for lasting by having wires applied thereto in the manner described near the beginning of this specification is placed upon a last 37 to which the insole has been attached, suitable adhesive being applied to the upper or insole or both. The last is then placed in position upon the last spindle 33, and the adjusting screw 35 is tightened to bring the toe of the upper down firmly against the toe rest 38. Assuming that the wire around the heel of the shoe is to be tightened first, the last jack is turned to proper position with the toe pointing toward the wire tightening device, and is held in such position by engagement of the latch 47 with the proper one of the two notches 48.

The sleeve 91 of the wire tightening device, it not already in its extreme leftward position, is moved leftwardly to such position, either by operating the valve controlling the cylinder 120, when a power device is used, or by releasing pressure fromthe pedal 141 if a foot-operated device is used. This leftward movement of the sleeve 91 results in opening the jaws 95 and 96 substantially to the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The hand wheel 110 is then turned if necessary to bring the clamping edges or the jaws to a substantially vertical position, this being the most convenient position for inserting the ends of the wire between the jaws, and the jaws are swung forwardly or'rearwardly (the sleeve 81 turning in the socket 82) to position them approximately over the center line of the shoe.

The lever 52 is then manipulated by means of the handle 53 to shift the jack in one direction or another to bring the ends 25 and 26 of the heel wire 24 to proper position to be received between the clamping jaws 95 and 96. The parts are then substantially in the position shown in Fig. '7.

ing the parts substantially to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Although this pull on the wire is transmitted through the last 3'7 tothe jack 32, it does not result in rightward movement of the jack because such movement is prevented by the one way clutch comprising the lever'54 and roller described in detail above.

During the latter part of the rightward movement of the sleeve, or after such movement has been completed, as may be preferred by the operator, the operator grasps the hand wheel 110 and turns it to rotate the sleeve 91 and withit the clamping jaws 95 and 96 through several complete revolutions. This results in twisting the ends of the wire gupcneach' other, further tightening the wire and holding it so that it will stay tightened after the grip oi the jaws 95 and 96 is released. The heel portion of the upper is thus drawn over the edges or the heel portion of the insole, and is held in such position while the adhesive hardens or sets.

The sleeve 91 is then moved leftwardly to release the clamping jaws from the twisted ends 25 and 26 01' the heel wire, the jack-32 is rotated 180 about its vertical axis 45 by releasing the latch 47 from one notch 48 and engagingit with the other notch 48, so that the toe points away from the tightening device, and the jack is positioned by manipulating the handle 53 so that the ends 22 and 23. of the toe wire be, and the toe wire is tightened and twisted in.

the same manner' above described in'connection with the heel wire.

' The sleeve 91 is thenmoved leitwardly again to release the clamping jaws from the endsof the toe wire, and the end of the tightening device which overhangs the shoe is swung to one side by rotation of the sleeve 81 in the socket 82,

thus permitting the last 37 to be lifted oil of the spindle 33 after the screw 35 has been loosened. The last and shoe carried thereby are laid aside on a rack or other suitable holder while the adhesive dries. At this stage of the operation, when both wires have been twisted as above described, the shoe has substantially the appear-- ance shown in Fig. 13. Another last is placed on the spindle 33; an insole and upper having previously been positioned upon the last and supplied with the necessary adhesive, and the operation is repeated. The lasting of shoes in this mannermay be done with great rapidity. Although the heel wire has been described asbeing tightened before the toe wire, it is obvious that the 'toe wire may first be tightened, and in many instances it may be preferred to operate first upon the toe wire, and then upon theheel wire. I When shoes of difierent sizes are to be lasted, the device may be easily adjusted to operate upon 1 any desired size of shoe by raising or lowering the device by means of the crank handle 81, and by tilting the device about its pivot '71 by loosening the clamping screw 94. Also the entire tightening device may be shifted from one socket 105 82 to another socket 82 if more convenient. Thus the device may be adjusted easily to any appropriate position which is found to be most suitable in connection with the particular size and style of shoe being lasted.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number 01' ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details shown, but is intendedto cover all variations and modificationsthereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope oi. the appended claims.

. I claim as my invention:

1. In a shoe lasting device, the combination 1 with means for holding a shoe, of Wire tightening mechanism movable toward and away from a shoe held by said means, said mechanism including wire clamping jaws, initial movement of said mechanism away from said shoe being effective to close said jaws and continued movement being eflective to carry said closed jaws away from said shoe to tighten a wireclamped in said jaws.

2. In ashoe-lasting device, the combination withmeans for holding a shoe, of wire tightening mechanism including wire clamping jaws movable relatively to each other, means for concomitantly closing said jaws and for moving them away from said shoe to tighten a wire clamped in said jaws, and means for rotating said-jaws to twist said wire.

3. In a shoe lasting device, the combination with means for holding a shoe, of wire tightening mechanism including wire clampin laws movable relatively to each other, means'for concomitantly closing said jaws and for moving them away. from said shoe to tighten a wire clamped in said jaws. and a hand wheel operatively connected to said jaws to enable said laws to be rotated manually to twist said wire. 4. In a shoe lasting device, the combination with means for holding a shoe, 01 wire tightening mechanism including a wire engaging device,

means for concomitantly closing said wire en- 150' gaging device and for moving it in a general direction away from said shoe to tighten a wire engaged with said device, and means including a' hand wheel operatively connected to said device for rotating said device manually to twist said wire.

5. In a shoe lasting device, the combination with means for holding a shoe, of guideways extending in a general direction toward and away from said shoe, and wire tightening mechanism including wire engaging means mounted in said guideways for longitudinal movement therein to tighten a wire attached to said shoe.

6. In a shoe lasting device, the combination with means for holding a shoe, of guideways extending in a general direction toward and away from said shoe, and wire tightening mechanism including wire engaging means mounted in said guideways for both longitudinal and rotary movement therein to tighten a wire attached to said shoe.

7. A wire tightening mechanism for lasting shoes, comprising in combination a rod, a wire clamping jaw pivoted on said rod, said jaw having a tail, and a member movable longitudinally relative to said rod, initial movement of said member acting upon said tail to shift said jaw, and continued movement being effective to move said jaw and rod bodily.

8. In a wire tightening mechanism for lasting shoes, the combination with a rod having a fixed wire clamping jaw thereon, of a movable wire clamping jaw pivoted on said rod for cooperation with said fixed jaw, said movable jaw having a cam portion, a sleeve surrounding said rod and movable longitudinally relative thereto, said sleeve having a part to engage said cam portion so that initial movement of said sleeve relative to said rod clamps said movable jaw against said fixed jaw and continued movement of said sleeve moves said jawsand rod bodily therewith,

holding a shoe, a wire engaging device, means for operating said wire engaging device to grip a wire attached to said shoe, means for moving said wire engaging device in a general direction away from said shoe to tighten the wire gripped by said device, and means including a hand wheel operatively connected to said device for rotating said device manually to twist said wire.

10. A shoe lasting device comprising means for holding a shoe, 9. wire engaging device for gripping a wire attached to said shoe, means for concomitantly operating said device to grip said wire and moving said device in a general direction away from said shoe to tighten said wire, and means including a hand wheel operatively con nected to said device for rotating said device manually to twist said wire.

11. A device for lasting shoes with the aid of wires, comprising guiding means extending in a general direction toward and away from the shoe to be lasted, a jaw carrying member and a jaw operating member movable relatively to each other and both movable alongsaid guiding means, wire gripping jaws carried by said jaw carrying member, means for moving said operating member to cause relative movement between it and said jaw carrying member and bodily movement of both of said members away from said shoe, and means operated by movement of said members relatively to each other for closing said jaws.

12. A device for lasting shoes with the aid of wires, comprising guiding means extending in a general direction toward and away from the shoe to be lasted, a jaw carrying member and a jaw operating member movable relatively to each other and both movable along said guiding means, wire gripping jaws carried by said jaw carrying member, means for moving said operating member to cause relative movement between it and said jaw carrying member and bodily movement of both of said members away from said shoe, and cooperating cam surfaces associated with said members and effective to close said jaws upon predetermined movement of said members relatively to each other.

GEORGE W. WR. 

